What does a student services advisor do?
The student services advisor provides answers to all non-academic inquiries from both students and the public. This person helps manage student affairs and ensures the welfare of all enrolled within an educational institution. The student services advisor also monitors student activities and performance and provides needed advice and help when needed. The advisor also provides a way for students to learn about the welfare services that they can get. Added to these responsibilities is the management of student records and other pertinent information regarding all enrollees.
Student services advisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real student services advisor resumes:
- Coach and mentore students in determining optimal course of study to achieve specific career performance goals and certifications.
- Adhere to and comply with FERPA guidelines and confidentiality.
- Have the ability to call, email and meet students and family members face to face under FERPA regulations.
- Partner with ESL schools and community colleges for international student transfers, enhancing international student community standing within the larger population.
- Preform transcript evaluations and calculate GPA requirements to identify general education course needs.
- Evaluate transcripts from other academic institutions for equivalencies, calculate GPA's, and analyze graduation eligibility.
- Establish, develop and maintain client relationships for professional representation and unique and positive DeVry experience.
Student services advisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Student Services Advisors are proficient in Student Services, Financial Aid, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Listening skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Student Services Advisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Student Services, 25%
Presented mandatory information regarding the Student Services Department during new student orientation.
- Financial Aid, 18%
Provided comprehensive financial aid information, explanation of college assessments, determined students' educational needs and provided appropriate referrals.
- Customer Service, 4%
Ensured high-level of customer service to ensure retention and success of student population through administration of various student centered support services.
- Academic Programs, 4%
Assist in planning and implementing programs and services that assist students to re-enter, continue, and complete their academic programs.
- Student Events, 4%
Assist with planning and executing quarterly student events/activities and classroom presentations.
- Support Services, 3%
Delivered expert student centered support services.
"student services," "financial aid," and "customer service" are among the most common skills that student services advisors use at work. You can find even more student services advisor responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a student services advisor to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "school and career counselors and advisors interpret student records, schoolwide data, and assessments to match interests and abilities with potential careers. ." Additionally, a student services advisor resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "placed holds on international students: mandatory insurance, mandatory orientation, immigration data collection. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling student services advisor duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "school and career counselors and advisors need to give full attention to students and clients in order to understand their problems." According to a student services advisor resume, here's how student services advisors can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated effectively with other department managers and faculty regarding student issues, concerns, progress, and advice provided. "
Speaking skills. student services advisors are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to student services advisor responsibilities, because "school and career counselors and advisors must communicate effectively with clients and students." A student services advisor resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "authored and presented reports to management including; attendance, retention metrics, phone status and customer service. "
Interpersonal skills. student services advisor responsibilities often require "interpersonal skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "school and career counselors and advisors must be able to work with people of all backgrounds and personalities." This resume example shows what student services advisors do with interpersonal skills on a typical day: "possessed interpersonal skills which contributed to successful student interactions resulting in increased student retention by seven percent. "
The three companies that hire the most student services advisors are:
- Strategic Education5 student services advisors jobs
- Unitek Learning5 student services advisors jobs
- University of Southern California5 student services advisors jobs
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Compare different student services advisors
Student services advisor vs. Job coach
A job coach is responsible for evaluating people's skills and qualifications, advising them with career paths, helping with their aspirations, and promote employment opportunities. Job coaches help the clients build self-confidence and explore their maximum potentials to develop their professional growth. They provide counseling, understanding the clients' strengths and weaknesses, analyzing clients' personal goals, and guiding clients through job interviews and assessments. A job coach must have excellent communication, listening, and analytical skills to handle their clients' challenges and match their interests for the best career suited for them.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between student services advisors and job coach. For instance, student services advisor responsibilities require skills such as "student services," "financial aid," "academic programs," and "student events." Whereas a job coach is skilled in "developmental disabilities," "cpr," "rehabilitation," and "mental health." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Job coaches tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $38,362. In contrast, student services advisors make the biggest average salary, $40,374, in the education industry.On average, job coaches reach lower levels of education than student services advisors. Job coaches are 12.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Student services advisor vs. Admissions representative
As the name entails, admissions representatives assist prospective and new students attending a university. They give these students the information they need to make a well-informed decision regarding enrollment, make admissions decisions, and review documents. It is also their job to decide which students need to be followed up, ask students their choices, and hold new and prospective students to deadlines. They may be assigned to several areas depending on the department's needs, including prospect management, graduate admissions, and undergraduate admissions.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real student services advisor resumes. While student services advisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "student events," "support services," "student accounts," and "ferpa," admissions representatives use skills like "patients," "phone calls," "conduct interviews," and "outbound calls."
Admissions representatives earn a lower average salary than student services advisors. But admissions representatives earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $50,011. Additionally, student services advisors earn the highest salaries in the education with average pay of $40,374 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Admissions representatives tend to reach lower levels of education than student services advisors. In fact, they're 10.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Student services advisor vs. School counselor
A school counselor is responsible for monitoring the students' social and personal development, advising them of their career aspirations, and assisting them with their academic achievements and goals. School counselors also ensure that the students receive the highest learning standards to pave their way towards society's advancement and global competitiveness. They evaluate students' behavior through personal counseling, understanding their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome their needs. A school counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills, supporting students with their goals, and honing their skills efficiently.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a student services advisor is likely to be skilled in "student services," "customer service," "academic programs," and "student events," while a typical school counselor is skilled in "mental health," "crisis intervention," "professional development," and "behavioral issues."
School counselors earn the best pay in the education industry, where they command an average salary of $52,385. Student services advisors earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $40,374.When it comes to education, school counselors tend to earn higher degree levels compared to student services advisors. In fact, they're 14.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Student services advisor vs. Peer mentor
A peer mentor is an individual who builds a relationship with another person or mentee who is new to the career or at the same level. Peer mentors must serve as a social role model and educate mentees on various resources and services. They coordinate and facilitate social programs and training and discuss any mentee concerns with the top management. Peer mentors are also required to maintain confidentiality with any shared information between mentors and mentees.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between student services advisors and peer mentors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a student services advisor might have more use for skills like "customer service," "academic programs," "student events," and "student retention." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of peer mentors require skills like "mental health," "role model," "mathematics," and "gpa. "
In general, peer mentors earn the most working in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $30,162. The highest-paying industry for a student services advisor is the education industry.peer mentors reach lower levels of education compared to student services advisors, in general. The difference is that they're 14.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of student services advisor
Updated January 8, 2025
